Cabinet Office

Nigel Boardman

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Mr Nigel Boardman was asked to submit a declaration of interests before he started the review into government procurement activity; and where that declaration is published.

Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 22 July 2021. Nigel Boardman is a distinguished legal expert, having undertaken a number of reviews scrutinising the government. He was asked to lead this review following the appropriate consideration of relevant interests.

Meat: New Zealand

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has made or contributed to any administrative determinations in the Northern Ireland protocol joint committee that would bar New Zealand (a) sheepmeat and (b) beef products accessing Northern Ireland’s markets using the preferential access set out under the UK New Zealand-specific WTO tariff rate quota commitments.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government has not made or contributed to any administrative determinations in the Northern Ireland Joint Committee that would bar New Zealand exporters accessing Northern Ireland’s market’s using the preferential access set out under UK New Zealand specific WTO tariff rate quota commitment.Any such impact on New Zealand sheep meat and beef product exporters is a direct result of the EU’s unilateral introduction of Regulation 2020/2170 on the application of Union tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and other import quotas, on 16 December 2020. If strictly applied, the Regulation would mean that importers of goods subject to any EU tariff rate quotas or other import quotas directly into Northern Ireland would be unable to access either EU or UK quotas, and would therefore need to pay a tariff.The UK has underlined to the European Commission that this is a matter requiring urgent consideration as part of addressing issues with the operation of the Protocol, though there has not yet been any resolution found through the Joint Committee. The Government equally has set out its determination to address the issues faced by New Zealand exporters at a meeting of the WTO agriculture committee on 29 March, and we continue to engage with the New Zealand government as discussions proceed.This is one of the elements of the Protocol we have been clear should be addressed as we seek to find a new balance in how it operates, as set out in our Command Paper published on 21 July (Northern Ireland Protocol: the way forward, CP502).

Department of Health and Social Care

Pregnancy: Coronavirus

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the process is for ensuring health professionals (a) are discussing with pregnant women the risks and benefits of the covid-19 vaccine and (b) have up to date information on the risks and benefits of the vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with regional teams and providers to ensure that advice on vaccination in pregnancy, including the risks and benefits of vaccination to pregnant women, is being offered antenatally and that information materials are available across antenatal and primary care settings. To ensure that healthcare professionals are having these discussions, NHS England and NHS Improvement have asked maternity and primary care services to support all general practitioners, practice nurses, midwives and obstetricians to give objective, evidence-based advice to women on vaccination in pregnancy at every antenatal contact. For healthcare professionals, there is also a checklist to aid discussions on the potential benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, and to gain informed consent. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/04/C1293-COVID-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy-vaccinator-checklist-version-2-19-May-2021.pdfAs part of their professional development, healthcare professionals and medical staff are expected to familiarise themselves with the latest guidance on matters of clinical importance. This could be through a range of mediums including clinical guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, journal reviews, circulars, bulletins, Royal Colleges guidance, information from the General Medical Council and guidance from Public Health England.

Travel: Coronavirus

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to allow people who have been fully vaccinated against covid-19 arriving into England from amber destinations to avoid the need for self-isolation from 19 July 2021.

Jo Churchill: Certain categories of international arrivals who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine or take a day 8 test when travelling from ‘amber list’ countries. This currently includes individuals vaccinated under the United Kingdom vaccine rollout and travellers who have been vaccinated in the United States or European Union with a European Medicines Agency, Swissmedic or United States Food and Drug Administration authorised vaccine.Travellers will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on day two, with any positive results requiring isolation in line with domestic social distancing regulations. This will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.